Red Sox Showing Interest in Walker Buehler

[Bellhorn04]

6 minutes ago, notin said:

What’s the difference between Buehler and Means? They’re one year apart in age, and both injured all the time.  Buehler is slightly healthier (which isn’t saying much), but Means is a better pitcher…

They're both very good pitchers.  I'd take either.  We'll get neither.

[notin]

3 hours ago, Behindenemylines said:

Buehler on a short prove me contract would be a get for the Sox. I think he turned the corner on his comeback in the playoffs. He has big game experience and i think would be a positive in a Sox playoff push in 2025. It's still Burns as first choice, but Buehler is my second choice of the remaining FA starters.

Buehler is another Rehab Project, and I think people cling to him because they like the high ceiling.

But this is a pitcher whose career includes parts of 7 seasons spanning 8 years with 12.2 career bWAR, 7.1 of which came in one year back in 2021.  I don’t think that’s his ceiling anymore.

He might be safer than Means.  In the long run, Sandoval is definitely the smarter, safer choice.  

[Bellhorn04]

53 minutes ago, notin said:

Buehler is another Rehab Project, and I think people cling to him because they like the high ceiling.

But this is a pitcher whose career includes parts of 7 seasons spanning 8 years with 12.2 career bWAR, 7.1 of which came in one year back in 2021.  I don’t think that’s his ceiling anymore.

He might be safer than Means.  In the long run, Sandoval is definitely the smarter, safer choice.  

What's safe about Sandoval, other than that it's a safe bet we won't see him until after the ASB, if then? 

As for the "long run", we only have him for one full healthy year at most. 

[mvp 78]

19 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

What's safe about Sandoval, other than that it's a safe bet we won't see him until after the ASB, if then? 

As for the "long run", we only have him for one full healthy year at most. 

If they get 50 innings out of him this year, I’ll be surprised. Sandoval was simply a move for 2026.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Cross off two more starting pitchers:

Manaea signs with Mets.

Luzardo traded to Phils.

Red Sox know if they wait long enough, they won't have to pay market prices for any more starters. OR TALENT.

But the team will coalesce during the playoffs without question. There will be a party at Fulmer's house for Boston players to watch Game 1 of the ALDS on TV.

 

 

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Cross off two more starting pitchers:

Manaea signs with Mets.

Luzardo traded to Phils.

Red Sox know if they wait long enough, they won't have to pay market prices for any more starters. OR TALENT.

But the team will coalesce during the playoffs without question. There will be a party at Fulmer's house for Boston players to watch Game 1 of the ALDS on TV.

Luzardo wasn't good last year. Manaea was always going back to the Mets. The only fish that matter are Burnes and Walker. 

[Bellhorn04]

4 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Luzardo wasn't good last year. Manaea was always going back to the Mets. The only fish that matter are Burnes and Walker. 

And Passan doesn't even list us a Front Runner for Burnes. 

"Burnes' suitors include the Giants, Blue Jays and Orioles," 

https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/43042910/mlb-offseason-2024-25-free-agency-trade-rumors-update-passan-arenado-bregman-burnes-alonso

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, Bellhorn04 said:

And Passan doesn't even list us a Front Runner for Burnes. 

"Burnes' suitors include the Giants, Blue Jays and Orioles," 

https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/43042910/mlb-offseason-2024-25-free-agency-trade-rumors-update-passan-arenado-bregman-burnes-alonso

Sox were in the top tier at one point. Too bad, so sad. 

[Bellhorn04]

I think they can use up the rest of the offseason now debating about whether to make a big offer to Bregman and ultimately deciding against it. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

6 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

And Passan doesn't even list us a Front Runner for Burnes. 

"Burnes' suitors include the Giants, Blue Jays and Orioles," 

https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/43042910/mlb-offseason-2024-25-free-agency-trade-rumors-update-passan-arenado-bregman-burnes-alonso

Further down, Gammons quoted other GM's praising Breslow's aggressiveness at the Winter Meetings. He called it a "willingness to embrace change."

I can think of a few changes Red Sox fans would embrace today, with a week to go before NEXT YEAR.

"Right now, Red Sox Nation," said one poster, "has an impressive willingness to embrace Adam's apples."

[Bellhorn04]

3 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Further down, Gammons quoted other GM's praising Breslow's aggressiveness at the Winter Meetings. He called it a "willingness to embrace change."

I can think of a few changes Red Sox fans would embrace today, with a week to go before NEXT YEAR.

"Right now, Red Sox Nation," said one poster, "has an impressive willingness to embrace Adam's apples."

We seem more like passive aggressive.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

3 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

We seem more like passive aggressive.

But only if confirmed by Jeff Passive Aggressive.

[mvp 78]

19 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

I think they can use up the rest of the offseason now debating about whether to make a big offer to Bregman and ultimately deciding against it. 

He's going to want too many years. If you could get him for 3, I'd be all over it. 

[mvp 78]

17 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Further down, Gammons quoted other GM's praising Breslow's aggressiveness at the Winter Meetings. He called it a "willingness to embrace change."

I can think of a few changes Red Sox fans would embrace today, with a week to go before NEXT YEAR.

"Right now, Red Sox Nation," said one poster, "has an impressive willingness to embrace Adam's apples."

From what I've seen/heard, Breslow wants to be aggressive but is being held back by the higher ups. Wasn't hiring Theo supposed to break down that barrier? 

[notin]

21 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

What's safe about Sandoval, other than that it's a safe bet we won't see him until after the ASB, if then? 

As for the "long run", we only have him for one full healthy year at most. 

“Safer” is a relative term.  Just because something is safer than something else didn’t mean it is safe.

If you want to know why Sandoval is safer than Buehler or Means, his injury history is much less than either…

[notin]

54 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

And Passan doesn't even list us a Front Runner for Burnes. 

"Burnes' suitors include the Giants, Blue Jays and Orioles," 

https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/43042910/mlb-offseason-2024-25-free-agency-trade-rumors-update-passan-arenado-bregman-burnes-alonso

So.. the Giants…

[Hugh2]

SOX sign Buehler for 1 year $21 million

[mvp 78]

21 minutes ago, notin said:

“Safer” is a relative term.  Just because something is safer than something else didn’t mean it is safe.

If you want to know why Sandoval is safer than Buehler or Means, his injury history is much less than either…

One year deal is a good bit of business IMO. 

[mvp 78]

Crochet

Houck

Giolito

Buehler

Bello

Crawford to the pen? Traded? Crawford was really strong out of the pen in '23: 1.66 ERA, 471 OPS, 4.5 k/9, 0.69 WHIP.

[mvp 78]

2.5M in performance bonuses. 

[Hitch]

Love this signing. I was worried the Sandoval signing would mean nothing else was happening there. Very happy to be proven wrong and makes me like the Sandoval one even more. 

 

That's a tasty starting rotation now. You'd think that would mean the possible trades for pitching are no longer likely.

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, Hitch said:

Love this signing. I was worried the Sandoval signing would mean nothing else was happening there. Very happy to be proven wrong and makes me like the Sandoval one even more. 

 

That's a tasty starting rotation now. You'd think that would mean the possible trades for pitching are no longer likely.

As I've said before, Sandoval was 100% about 2026. I don't think he factors into the rotation this year. Maybe he gets some starts down the stretch, but the value should come next season. He'll take over Gio's spot if Gio pitches over 140 innings this season. If Gio misses 140 innings due to a late start to the year, he'll take over Buehler's spot and Gio will come back on the 14M vesting option.  

[notin]

2 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Cross off two more starting pitchers:

Manaea signs with Mets.

Luzardo traded to Phils.

Red Sox know if they wait long enough, they won't have to pay market prices for any more starters. OR TALENT.

But the team will coalesce during the playoffs without question. There will be a party at Fulmer's house for Boston players to watch Game 1 of the ALDS on TV.

 

 

I would have liked Manaea, but I wanted no part of Luzardo.  Coming off back surgery, no one knows how he’ll hold up…

[Hitch]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

As I've said before, Sandoval was 100% about 2026. I don't think he factors into the rotation this year. Maybe he gets some starts down the stretch, but the value should come next season. He'll take over Gio's spot if Gio pitches over 140 innings this season. If Gio misses 140 innings due to a late start to the year, he'll take over Buehler's spot and Gio will come back on the 14M vesting option.  

 Most likely he will be for 2026, but the best case scenario is that he can come back and help towards the mid-end of summer and into the play offs. Which is why I liked the move as long as he wasn't the only one. 

 

[notin]

4 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

As I've said before, Sandoval was 100% about 2026. I don't think he factors into the rotation this year. Maybe he gets some starts down the stretch, but the value should come next season. He'll take over Gio's spot if Gio pitches over 140 innings this season. If Gio misses 140 innings due to a late start to the year, he'll take over Buehler's spot and Gio will come back on the 14M vesting option.  

So Buehler plus Sandoval equals one pitcher..

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, notin said:

I would have liked Manaea, but I wanted no part of Luzardo.  Coming off back surgery, no one knows how he’ll hold up…

Luzardo has an injury history that rivals Buehler's. Pass on a trade for him. 

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, notin said:

So Buehler plus Sandoval equals one pitcher..

If Buehler can stay healthy long enough before handing it over to Sandoval? 

Sox have considerable starting depth if they don't move Crawford.

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Based on health at the end of last season less than two months ago, here's the starting rotation today:

Crochet, Buehler, Houck, Bello, Crawford.

Whatever the Red Sox get from others who have not yet returned from elbow procedures is a bonus.

[notin]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

He's going to want too many years. If you could get him for 3, I'd be all over it. 

The Sox can get Bregman for 3 years.  Just let him sign elsewhere and then trade for him in four years.  Or they could just trade for Arenado now…

[mvp 78]

21 minutes ago, notin said:

The Sox can get Bregman for 3 years.  Just let him sign elsewhere and then trade for him in four years.  Or they could just trade for Arenado now…

He OPS'd 719 last season. May as well just throw Sogard over there.